From the outset, let me just say that spiking the football is just poor sportspersonship. Sports in general are demonstrating more and more that it is about “Me! Me! Me!” and not a team effort. Just the other day, I remarked to my partner how sad it is that when a soccer player scores a goal, he or she now runs away from the embrace of teammates to claim all the credit. It hints (not so subtly) of arrogance.
And so it is when the President of the United States jets himself off to Afghanistan on our dime to brag about HIS big accomplishment of killing Osama bin Laden a year ago. Then goes on prime time tee-vee to declare that “the tide has turned” with the Taliban (because he hasn’t been on the tee-vee enough apparently). Yes, Obama went to our one of our military bases there for this photo-op:
(Photo credit: en.ria.ru)
Isn’t he just SO manly?! Ugh, blech. I am certain our military there, working under difficult and dangerous conditions, is SO glad to be used in this manner. Aren’t you?
Anyway, after Obama’s Big Speech claiming, “we can see the light of a new day on the horizon,” guess what happened? The Taliban happened, that’s what:
The Taliban struck back less than two hours after President Barack Obama left Afghanistan on Wednesday, targeting a foreigners’ housing compound with a suicide car bomb and militants disguised as women in an assault that killed at least seven people.It was the second major assault in Kabul in less than three weeks and highlighted the Taliban’s continued ability to strike in the heavily guarded capital even when security had been tightened for Obama’s visit and Wednesday’s anniversary of the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan.
[...]
“We broke the Taliban’s momentum. We’ve built strong Afghan security forces. We devastated al-Qaida’s leadership, taking out over 20 of their top 30 leaders,” he said. [snip]
Well, that WOULD be nice, to break the Taliban’s “momentum.” I would love nothing more. Though it kind of begs the question why we are helping them get an office in Qatar, if we are trying to “break their momentum”?? I know, I know – why inject facts into Obama’s reverie? Ahem.
There is a good reason for my asking, though, considering this attack two hours later after Obama spoke. And here is the explanation for it:
[snip] Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.“This was a message to Obama that those are not real Afghans that are signing documents about this country,” Mujahid said. “The real Afghan nation are those people that are not letting foreign invaders stay in this country or disrespect the dignity of our country.”[snip] (Click here to read the rest.)
Perhaps it is just this kind of terrible attack that is leading some people to query: Is this Obama’s “Mission Accomplished” moment?
Meanwhile, there was another incident in Afghanistan just the other day about which little has been said. The headline says it all: “Elite Afghan Soldier Kills U.S. Special Forces Mentor“:
An elite Afghan soldier shot dead an American mentor and his translator at a U.S. base, Afghan officials said on Friday, in the first rogue shooting blamed on the country’s new and closely vetted special forces.The soldier opened fire at an American military base on Wednesday in Shah Wali Kot district, in volatile Kandahar province, said General Abdul Hamid, the commander of Afghan army forces in the Taliban’s southern heartland.
“The shooting took place after a verbal conflict where the Afghan special forces soldier opened fire and killed an American special forces member and his translator,” Hamid told Reuters.[snip] (Click here to read the rest.)
Sigh. This kind of thing is apparently going on more than we are hearing, too. According to this AP article, the attacks are being under-reported:
The United States military is under-reporting the number of times that Afghan soldiers and police open fire on American and other foreign troops.The U.S.-led coalition routinely reports each time an American or other foreign soldier is killed by an Afghan in uniform. But The Associated Press has learned it does not report insider attacks in which the Afghan wounds — or misses — his U.S. or allied target. It also doesn’t report the wounding of troops who were attacked alongside those who were killed.
Such attacks reveal a level of mistrust and ill will between the U.S.-led coalition and its Afghan counterparts in an increasingly unpopular war. The U.S. and its military partners are working more closely with Afghan troops in preparation for handing off security responsibility to them by the end of 2014.[snip] (Click here to read the rest.)
And that is why I find Obama’s spiking the football, not just here, but over in Afghanistan, so distasteful. Not only is it arrogant, but it amounts to taunting. Who pays for that? Our troops, and innocent bystanders, pay for that. That is simply unacceptable.
What the US has accomplished in Afghanistan, for the taking out of bin Laden, does not belong to Obama. It belongs to all of us. Bottom line, the credit belongs not to Obama, but to our brave military personnel, who have endured more than we can imagine in their efforts on our behalf.
And so, I must share with you this video (h/t Helenk and 2harp) for this video:
Thank you to those for whom credit really IS due, even though you would never ask us for it, even though you do not “spike the football.” Thank you for all you do on our behalf, for all you and your families endure on our behalf, for your bravery, courage, and commitment. Thank you for your sacrifice on our behalf. We are a nation indebted to you.
And Obama, just stop spiking the football. Please. Please stop using our military for your campaign photo ops. Stop glossing over the very real dangers that still face our military in Afghanistan, and other countries. Please START giving credit where credit is due. Thank you.
That One is so callow and shallow. He’s but a shadow of a man.
I have to ask why the (p)Resident finds it necessary to sound like a Jeremiah Wright whenever he gets up and yaps now. He sounds like a fool and he certainly is no Martin Luther King. Apparently he’s playing to his base base as it were.
Good question, Ferd. His fake accent makes me nuts. And yes, he is playing to his “base.” Well said!
I read the text of Obama’s campaign speech in Af-gone a stan….
Obama is full of shit. There is no other way to say it. Hell, he can’t even offer up a good crisp salute to boot. I keep thinking “the anniversary”??? Why would I bother marking a day that a turd was wacked? Only a shmuck would waste time or mental energy on a dead POS, never mind fly to
“Af-gone a stan” at a large taxpayer expense to do it. I am incensed.
I know, right? I just can’t help but wonder what those soldiers thought of this whole thing.
And how abt his speech being given in an empty hall? No press, no nothing. The part in his speech that makes me irate is the whole “negotiating with terrorists” thing. I have had BIG issues with this for a while. Our conceding and bending over for the Taliban has NOT stopped them from trying to kill us. But we just keep on negotiating as if that is really going to make a difference. WOW.
Spot on Amy. What is to be done with a human who literally exists in the 7th century, like some cultural black hole? How can Obama trumpet negotiating with humans who have no motivation other than to see you dead? This negotiating thing has been going on since the end of the Bush administration.
In all the cases I have read about, it ended with the Taliban killing more people and in “the tribal areas” of Pakistan the ISI gives them shelter. No, Obama doesn’t mention that the females of these lands are being brutalized in the most monstorous manner and it is getting much WORSE on BO’s watch…. Can you think of even one action he has taken that has made it BETTER for women and children? I got nothing, zip, nada. Here is a turd of a POTUS that leaks Seal Teams /SpecOPS sources and methods for political points. He didn’t know that you can’t take pictures with injured soldiers when he “visited” Ramstein Airbase in 2008, which shows that he had NEVER done this before or he would have known better. He leaks operational details for nothing more than political effect, sets the DOJ on CIA operatives and anyone else in the intelligence community for political purposes that makes Valerie Wilson’s experience look like just another bug on the windshield. I have said it before and there no convincing me otherwise. Obama, Soetoro, what ever of the 39 Social Security numbersand names he is going by…he is a clear and present danger to the Constitution and national security of the United States and if the voters don’t remove him, the 25th should.
He has made anarchy his goal. He has an “enemies” list which is an impeachable offense. Ask Nixon. His use of Executive Orders would make Bush piss himself…
BO doesn’t mention that the United States funded the same assholes to drive Russia out of that god forsaken land, since nothing but great things happen on his watch. There are no Muslim terrorists just American folks that are a national security threat. Domestic terrorism is a BO meme. Does anyone understand that this shithead of a “constitutional scholar”, has by definition suspended Posse Comitatus by signing the NDAA?
Did you notice the trucks behind him? Did you notice that BO doesn’t want armed soldiers in his presence and his security detail treated those soldiers like just another campaign crowd? He has ZERO respect for the military and even less of an understanding of basic rank of which he is the CIC…
Obama is a P.I.G., everything he touches turns to bat guano. People have died because of his indifference. We have riots in the streets of America and he is responsible for it and instigates cultrual strife and laughs about it.
I’ll stop now.
Great rant, Teak, from the “Enemies List” to riots in our streets by groups endorsed by the high up muckety mucks in the Dem Party, including Obama. It is really remarkable to me that Obama has as high of an approval rating as he does. Just incredible…
You can rant on any time, Teak!
Obama is full of shit.and Shinola.
I know you all know what I would like to do with that football…..
~
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
http://www.saywhatyouwill.proboards.com
Teehee – good one, psstt!
I”sn’t he just SO manly?! Ugh, blech. I am certain our military there, working under difficult and dangerous conditions, is SO glad to be used in this manner. Aren’t you?”
Nothing but a media whore. all he is capable of caring about is himself. And Pssst too funny! good post Amy, to call attention to it, but do we really think the obots will care? No, hell you don’t see,them enlisted do you; might help with all that concern over expensive student loans.
Good point abt the Obots not being the ones (generally speaking) enlisting in the military, though you are right – that would sure cover their student loans. Nah – sounds too much like work, so…
Thanks, Katmoon!
Is it considered assault if he continues to pat himself on the back? Alert the playboys newly home from Columbia!
ROTFLMAO…
I have to say Amy, your descriptive nausea cracks me up, its so perfect, I love the “blech”.ROFLMAO
Thanks, Kat!
I just got back from Qatar. Man, they hate America.
Bin Laden doesnt “belong” to Obama, nor does he care about it. He just cares about being re-elected. He will sling whatever bullshit is required to get his drones to wake up on election day and cast a vote. For him. He has virtually no coattails left.
That said, I sure hope his unattactive self accolades blow up in his face.
I was never a big Bill Clinton fan and that ad he shot for Obama was better in the original German. Der Fuhrer ist wunderbar! Er hat Osama getotet! Heil Obama! Heil!
Gee, why am I not surprised abt Qatar?
And you are SO right abt bin Laden and Obama just wanting to get re-elected (or elected, since we now know how much ballot box stuffing went on in 2008). He really will descend to an depth to try and score political points. It is disgusting.
As for Bill, he has sunk low in my eyes as well.
Great comment, hc. And welcome home!
I read the bizarre Vanity Fair article about Obama and his (quasi fictitious) white wimminz girlfriends who just cannot understand black rage. And his irritation when being beaten by a woman at running. Bizarre.
I recall really liking my husband a lot when I first met him while running a charity 5K. Hes pretty fast, but that day I was faster. Well, we are both old and fat (and happy!) now, but back in 1492 we were awesome.
My husband was so happy to meet me post race, being I was faster in a sort of close finish. And I thought “now there is a man I would like to get to know”. The rest is history.
Obama, not so much. Pouting days later in the shower to a loss to his girlfriend. I actually believe it. And her conflict at being faster – typical white liberal woman guilt.
Be faster ladies, its fun, seriously. Real men can take it, and think its cool.The other men are not worth the oxygen.
Then I read about Elizabeth Warren saying its sexist to call her out for pretending to be a Cherokee.
Then I felt like going back to Qatar.
Blah. Thanks for another great article! Not sure how sensible folks are supposed to make it through 2012.
You are a brave woman, reading that entire VF article, hc! I had heard abt the “composite” girlfriend, but I had not heard abt Obama pouting because his girlfriend was faster than he was. Good grief. He really is such a petulant child, isn’t he?
And the story abt how you met your husband was priceless! how wonderful that he was nothing like Obama! It speaks volumes abt your husband’s reaction v. Obama’s.
I saw that abt Warren – how, exactly, is it sexist to to ensure someone is who they are claiming to be? I mean, if she brought it up somehow, whether it was in some autobiography, or narrative, shouldn’t that claim be vetted? Wow. You know I am pretty sensitive to issues of sexism and misogyny, but this is a real stretch.
Thanks, hc – I appreciate it. And please don’t go back to Qatar – we need you here!
I was so livid when I saw that video last night that I could not post without busting a blood vessel or calling a paramedic. My heart is so tender when it comes to the military, it pains me to know Obama despises the very fabric of their being, yet is oh so comfortable using them for political furtherance. I could puke.
I totally understand, sybilll. Obama’s lack of respect for the military, his using them as a political prop, is unbelievable.